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(No Model.)

A. A. DUBAND.

BREAST PUMP. No. 331,952. Patented Dec. 8, 1885.

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ALBERT A. DURAND,

PATENT @rrioE,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BR EAST-PU M P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,952, dated December8, 1885.

Application filed April 27, 1885.

Serial No. 163.497. {No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT A, DURAND, of the city and county of NewYork, in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovementin Breast-Pumps,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to those breast-pumps which consist of a pumpchamber or cup and a diaphragm fitted therein and having projecting fromit a stem or rod,which maybe swung from side to side or canted toproduce the operative movement of the diaphragm, the chamber or cuphaving connected with it a tube or passage provided at the outer endwith a nipple-socket.

One important object of my invention is to provide for adapting thenipple-socket to different-sized nipples, and thereby avoid anydistention of the nipple, which is caused if the socket applied thereto,is too large and which is extremely painful.

To this end my invention consists in the combinatiomwith a pump chamberor cup and its diaphragm, of a nipple-socket connected therewith, and alining piece or thimble of flexible material provided in said socket andmade of a size and shape to conform to and fit against the interior ofthe nipple-socket throughout the length of the lining-piece. Theseliningpieces may be of various thicknesses,according to the reduction ofsize in the socket required, and they may be removable, so thatlining-pieces of different thicknesses may be introduced, or so thatthey may be placed one inside the other within the nipplesocket.

The invention also consists in the combina tion, with a pump chamber orcup and its diaphragm, of an inlet-tube attached to the exterior of thechamber or cup and extending along the bottom thereof to theinlet-opening, a nipple-socket rigidly connected with the outer end ofsaid tube, and a connection between said nipple-socket and the outer oropen end of the pump chamber or cup, whereby I produce a simple andstrong apparatus wherein the pump chamber or cup, the inlettube, and thenipple-socket are connected to form one integral structure.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional elevationof a breastpump embodying my invention, the nipplesocket beingrepresented as provided with a single lining-piece. Fig. 2 represents asimilar section of a pump chamber or cup and a taper nipplesocket, saidnipple-socket having two lining-pieces inserted therein. Fig. 3represents a section similar to Fig. 2, the nipple-socket being providedwith a single liningpiece thicker than that shown in the other fig- 6oures. Fig.4 represents asection of an inlet-tube and nipple-socketalone. Fig. 5 shows nipplesocket and tube attached to the pump.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in theseveral figures.

A designates the pump chamber or cup, which may be advantageously madeof sheet metal, and which has at its bottom an inlet opening orperforation, a,through which liquid may enter it. To the pump chamber orcup is fitted a flexible diaphragm, B, of india-rubher or other suitablematerial, having an outwardly-extending head, I), at its upper edge,over which the edge portion of the cup A is turned inward, as shown ata, thereby securing the diaphragm in place.

B designates the center piece or body secured to the diaphragm. It hasan outwardlyprojecting flange, b, which underlies the diaphragm, andascrew-threaded shank or neck, upon which is secured a nut, b A washer,b is placed below this nut, and by tightening the not the diaphragm Bmay be clamped between the flange b and the washer b In the center pieceor body, B, are holes or openings for the passage of fluid, and whichare closed at their upper ends by a valve, 0, of any suitableconstruction. The not b has formed integral with it a handle or stem, 0,which may be swung or oscillated from side to side, and the cantingaction thereby produced will lift the diaphragm in order to produce anexhaustive action, and will then depress or collapse the diaphragm inorder that the milk I D is rigidly connected, by solder or otherwise, anipplesocket, D, thereby forming a tube and socket in one integralstructure, and for the sake of greater security the nipple-socket isconnected by solder or otherwise at d with the pump chamber or cup A.The nipplesocket D should be of a size large enough to receive thelargest nipple, and I have represented it as provided with a liningpiece or thimble, D which is to be made of india-rubber or otherflexible material. One or more of the lining-pieces D provide foradapting the nipple-socket to receive nipples of different sizes, andthis graduation in size may be obtained by providing lining-pieces ofdifferent thickness, any one of which may be placed in the nipple-socketI), or a nest of liningpieces adapted to fit one within the other, andproviding for varying the size by replacing or removing one or more ofthem from the nippie-socket.

In Fig. 1 I have represented a lining-piece, D of medium thickness. InFig. 2 I have represented two lining-pieces of medium thickness placedone inside the other, and both inserted into the nipple-socket D, and inFig. 3 Ihave represented a singleliningpiece, D", of greater thickness.These lining-pieces, being made of flexible material, are thus adaptedto readily conform to shape of the nipple, and when by them thenipple-socket is made of proper size to receive a particular nipple theexhaust action will be produced only on the end of the nipple, and willnot cause painful distention thereof.

The connection of the lining-pieces with the nipple-socket may be madein any suitable manner. I have here represented the nipplesocket asflared outward at its outer edge, and the lining-piece D is extendedoutward over such flared portion, and turned backward and inward tocover the outer side thereof adjacent to the edge. This method ofattaching the lining-pieces gives a soft and finished edge to a metalnipple-socket, and is therefore very desirable.

In Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, I have shown the tube D as approximatelyL-shaped, with its side which is adjacent to the chamber or cup Aflattened and soldered thereto throughout its length. In lieu of suchspecially-shaped tube,asimple round tube, I), soldered or tacked to thechamber only at the inlet-opening and at the lower corner, as shown inFig. 5, may be substituted.

I am aware that the nipple socket or cup of a breast-pump has beenprovided with a rubber cushion consisting of a diaphragm sprung over theouter edge of the cup and having at its center an inwardly projectingtubular socket to receive the nipple; but in this construction thetubular flexible socket is entirely out of contact with the interior ofthe rigid cup, and does not conform in shape to and fit against theinterior of said rigid cup. In my construction the flexible lining piecethroughout its whole length conforms in shape to and fits against theinterior of the rigid nipplesocket, and is supported and held againstdistention by the rigid nipplesOcket; hence when the pump is applied tothe breast there is no distention of the lining-piece and nipple, and nopainful effect on the person using the pump.

I am also aware that in order to secure a flexible connection between arigid nipple-cup and the portion of the pump which rests against thebreast adjacent to the nipple it has been proposed to stretch atubularpiece of flexible india-rubber over the open end of the nipplecup and tohave the outer end of such tubular piece of india-rubber turned outwardover a ring of metal through which it passes. In this construction thering of metal gives form to the outer end of the tubular piece ofindiarubber, and the indie-rubber forms a flexible connection betweenthe said ring and therigid nipplecup. In this construction theindiarubber does not conform in size or shape to the interior of thering or the rigid nipplecup, and is not supported by them throughout itslength. combination of parts in my invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,isi 1. In a breast-pump, the combination, with I do not desire toinclude such'a a pump chamber or cup and its diaphragm, of

a nipple-socket made of rigid material and connected with theinlet-opening of said chamber or cup, and a reducing lining-pieceofflexible material, provided in the nipple-socket to adapt it to thesize of a nipple, the lining-piece being of a size and shape to conformtoan d fit against the interior of the nipple-socket throughout thelength of the lining-piece, substantially as and for the purpose hereindescribed.

2. The combination, with the pump chamber or cup and its diaphragm, ofan inlet-tube and nipple-socket forming one integral structure, saidinlet-tube being secured to the exterior of the pump chamber or cup andextending along the bottom thereof to the inletopening, and thenipple-socket being connected directly with the outer or open end of thepump chamber or cup, substantially as and for the purpose hereindescribed.

ALBERT A. DURAND.

YVitnesses:

C. HALL, HENRY MCBRIDE.

